ICC Champions Trophy 2017: In a dismal final, Hardik Pandya was the only bright spot

​Hardik Pandya shows his frustration after being run out during the ICC Champions Trophy final between India and Pakistan in London.​

In a match which saw Virat Kohli and his boys fail miserably in all three departments of fielding, bowling and batting, it was Hardik Pandya who almost spearheaded a resurgence by scoring the fastest half-century in the history of ICC tournaments finals, even beating Adam Gilchrist's record. In the end, Pakistan's green army won the the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 at the Oval on Sunday, beating the Men in Blue by 180 runs. But Pandya's knock of 76 runs off 43 balls - including six sixes and four fours - earned him praise from the viewers and his own captain.

After the top batting order collapsed miserably to Pakistan's pace attack - led by Mohammed Amir - early in the game, Pakistan's victory seemed a given. But Pandya, who came in to bat when India was five down, created some interest in the Indian chase after a blistering knock. It came as a shock for fans when a mix-up between him and Ravindra Jadeja while running between the wickets, led to him being run out.

In the 26th over when Pandya called for a single and started running, Jadeja took a couple of steps ahead only to go back to the crease, thereby costing Pandya his wicket. Hassan Ali easily dislodged the bails, and Pakistan got its much needed wicket to win the title.

Many felt that Jadeja could have sacrificed his wicket when he and Pandya were stranded at one end, and he came in for a lot of criticism. Farhan Akhtar tweeted, “Yaar.. the Hardik run out was heartbreaking.. well played man” and Shashi Tharoor said, “Don't understand why @imjadeja didn't sacrifice his wicket when he saw @hardikpandya7 at his end. RJ was having a bad day at office anyway.”

Pandya was understandably furious and hugely disappointed. He showed his anger on the field by slamming his bat to the ground and yelling while on his way back to the dressing room. Kohli only had praise for the 23-year-old who stood up against the fierce Pakistani bowlers and clobbered them all around the park - something none of the top order batsmen could do.

Hardik Pandya swings his bat in frustration after being run out during the ICC Champions trophy cricket match between India and Pakistan at The Oval in London.

He credited Pandya during his interview at the presentation ceremony, and then praised him again during the post match press conference.

“Everyone who plays for the country is committed to the team. He is passionate and He felt he was in the zone today and he could have done something really special and that's why the disappointment came out. It is a part of playing international sport,” said Kohli talking about all-rounder's expression of disappointment on the field."